Coral Resurrections ! !

[horge]

I don't know how many of us have had apparently tissue-less coral skeleta stage a comeback after days (even weeks) of algae-overgrown lifelessness.

I've often had Porites cylindrica skeleta fragments, overgrown with all manner of algae, suddenly sprout polyps in the original calices, usually after an increase in lighting; an increase in alk; and/or some herbivore initially clearing some of the algae.

It is called the Phoenix Effect, and I've finally found photos (from Dr. David Krupp's website - Windward Comm. College) to accompany this post:
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http://www.geocities.com/art_harvest/phoenix1.jpg
Here's two heads of Porites compressa. One has been exposed to freshwater for such length of time as has apparently killed tissue, leaving bare skeleton that was begging to be colonized by algae. The abuse to the other one has apparently been limited to taking it out of the saltwater for the photo http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

http://www.geocities.com/art_harvest/phoenix2.jpg
And here is a cross section of a branch off of the 'dead' P. compressa colony, revealing that beneath the dirty-yellow outer layer of typically-algae-infiltrated skeleton lies a near-contiguous layer of living coral tissue (the brownish layer), within the old, overgrown perforate-skeleton cavities. I had no idea that tissue extended that far down into older layers.

These pockets of tissue can survive for some time (mothballed in mucus and living off their own protein and sugars I would suppose) and take advantage of a return to livable conditions.

I guess this suggests you shouldn't just throw old coral skeleta away, especially if they're 'fresh deaths'. Cleaning off some algae and improving environmental conditions about such skeleta just might provide you with a pleasant surprise http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

Heck I've even had 'dead' Montipora skeleta, encrusting moist-shipped live rock, suddenly sprout polyps and recover almost all the original skeleton.

Needless to say, The Phoenix Effect has a better chance of happening with perforate-skeleton forming corals.

Just FYI, hehehe, and I'd love to hear of similar experiences.

horge



[This message has been edited by horge (edited 09-18-2000).]

[Martyn]

Hello Horge.
That is very interesting.
I have not had this happen to me with any colonys yet except on two tiny 1" frags I thought they had lost all there tissue.
then some weeks later many of my snails decided to come off the glass and clean my rockwork they spent some time on these two frags.
Also by that time I had increased my MH too two 400w.
I did not take much notice of these two tiny inch long frags of Acropora as they had turned white and coverd in algae Diatoms.
I noticed that the top 1/4 of an inch at the tips had some brown polyps I could not believe it.
I was sure it had fully bleached and once the diatoms had coverd it that was BYE BYE to the frag I assumed I had not looked at it very well and had missed something.
Over a short period they grew down the branch and onto the rock.

I have always kept the SPS corals that bleached on me in a separate tank they are now in my prop sumps in the garage which are lit by MH.
I will have to get some cleaners in there and see what happens.

BTW I just found this Not connected to your thread but thought you may not of seen it.
http://www.mars.reefkeepers.net/Arti...ralFarmUS.html
http://www.mars.reefkeepers.net/USHo...rticlesUS.html

Martyn


[This message has been edited by Martyn (edited 09-18-2000).]

[FishDaddy]

Horge,
This is a fascinating revelation. http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif Martyn, that is a great project in the PI; it's a start! http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif
While the possible resurrection of a coral frag in a reef aquarium is interesting and could save some sps that might be headed for the scrap heap, the real implication is the possibilities for regeneration of coral reefs. We all know of the many "dead" reefs around the world and this phenomenon might give hope that some might eventually heve new growth. The major factor would seem to be providing conditions in which renewal could occur. In the reef tank, it's relatively simple to clean up algae and improve water conditions but the ocean might take a bit more cleanup! http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif Time is also of the essence; how long can these "dead" corals survive while waiting for us to clear up the seas?
Thanks to you both for this info.
Dick http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Allison]

Speaking of that, how long can a coral be "dead" for before "coming back from the dead"?

My bubble "died off" about seven months ago when a fellow reefer asked me to nurse it back to health. I thought it was a lost cause but had also heard of accounts of corals "coming back to life". So I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep it just for show.

And what do ya know, it grew back!! So far I have four "bubbles". I'll keep you updated. Any suggestions?!? Right now it's in the corner in low current.

[horge]

Hi Allison,

The record for me stands at two weeks, not including the transport of the live rock from the reef.

***[If I had to guess, the skeleton was 'dead' (and I mean rock-gray, some green, and with no trace of visible coral tissue), for a total of two months.]

The coral was Porites cylindrica, though I've seen this happen with a Euphyllia divisa (maybe three weeks, tops) and countless Faviids.

Never seen it on Pocilloporids, and Martyn's Acropora is pleasant news to me http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif